State tells Texoma boaters to clean, drain and dry over July Fourth weekend

By GvilleTX Newsroom

Texas Parks and Wildlife is asking boaters leaving Lake Texoma this Fourth of July weekend to clean, drain and dry their boats and gear before launching at another lake. The agency issued the statewide reminder in a July 2 news release tied to the holiday and to the peak of summer water recreation. Its Lake Texoma access page adds a local detail: zebra mussels have already invaded the reservoir, and draining water from boats there is required by state law.

The release directed the message at boaters, paddlers and anglers, telling them to "clean, drain and dry" boats and equipment to slow the movement of aquatic invasive species between Texas lakes.

The department's access page for Lake Texoma lays out what that means on the reservoir itself. According to the page, zebra mussels are established in the lake, water must be drained from vessels and equipment before leaving, and possessing or transporting zebra mussels is illegal in Texas. The page carries the same clean, drain and dry instruction as the statewide release.

The advisory reached the area during a full stretch of holiday programming. Gainesville's official 2026 Independence Day event was set for Friday, July 3, at Gainesville Municipal Airport, ending with a fireworks finale, according to the city's website. Denison planned its 39th annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration for Saturday, July 4, at Munson Stadium and Forest Park, where the city said fireworks would follow music at dusk.

Fireworks buyers had extra time this season. Records from the state fire marshal's office at the Texas Department of Insurance show the 2026 retail sales period for the Independence Day season began June 24 and was extended through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, keeping over-the-counter sales legal through the end of the holiday weekend.

Stands operating in unincorporated Grayson County need a county operational permit on top of state authorization, according to the county's fireworks information page. The county charges a $100 fee per stand and says random inspections may occur during the seasonal sales period.

The state's instruction does not expire with the holiday. Boat owners heading home from Texoma are told to clean their boats and gear, drain any water on board and let everything dry before the next launch. TPWD says draining water from boats and equipment before leaving Lake Texoma is required by law.